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Thursday, April 30, 2015

Do you keep track of your
reading - both professional and for fun? When I read for fun ( I love
historical fiction and biographies ) I don't. I just read for pure
enjoyment.

However when I do professional reading ( books, journals) I have my
notebook with me.I like to jot down ideas that I gleam that I can use ,
ideas for lessons, quotes that inspire me, ideas for advocacy, or
ideas to share with library colleagues or teachers. I can look back in
this notebook and make sure I have the quote or idea correct.
Also I can look back and reread . It sometimes sparks an idea for displays, organizing, or staff development. This is also a record of what I have read- Yes I do note titles and authors, So if some one asks for a recommendation , I can give it to them . This is especially true of really good professional books,

Friday, April 17, 2015

Its Friday . ( or it could be any day for that matter) What does
your desk look like? Is it totally out of control? Take 15 minutes
and straighten it up.
First , take a stack of empty file
folders and your favorite pencil. ( I'll tell you why a pencil in a
moment) Begin with picking up the first pile of materials. If there is
anything that is essential to your library or your classes, decide what
to do with it.
If there are several items that belong
together, take a file folder and label what it you are placing in it.
Move these folders to a spot where they can be organized and filed.
Anything you do not need , throw out or place in recycling.

Keep going until your desk is cleared. You should end up with file
folders to file and items to recycle. This afternoon or when you have
another 15 minute slot, file the folders in the proper place in your
file cabinet.
If you already have a file that is marked for
that item, place the items in the file in your cabinet. Then you can
erase the tab and use if for something else. Permanent files should be
marked with a . Now you have a clean desk and will be able to figure out
what to do with the rest of your day.
My book The Organized Librarian has a chapter on how I organize my files , and how I avoid duplicate files. Order the ebook- click on the tab Books for Sale- follow the directions to get the full copy!

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

As school and Public librarians, we need to become leaders in our schools and buildings.. We (
along with administrators & direct) are the professionals that have the overall
snapshot of the school and community’s . We are the ones that know the instruction ,curriculum. and personal needs. Work
with your administrators and directors to set up a schedule for staff development for
the next year. Work with your staff to develop what needs to be done as far as educating the clerks .

One of the first staff development workshops that you can do during
teacher conference days is an Orientation to the data bases that your
school has. This will give everyone a push to get the teachers thinking
about which ones they can use with their students. At this time, offer
to help classes learn how to use databases or mention that they can be
used when the classes are doing research, guided inquiry or non-fiction
texts.

During the year, listen to staff and see what they need as far as
staff development. Is there a grade level that wants to infuse more
technology? Do clerks and staff have lots of questions on circulation, reports, other tasks?

Some more ideas for staff development: e-sources, primary sources,
information literacy skills, streaming video sites for your state- show
them how helpful they can be, digital projects, inquiry based learning,
and resources for the common core.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

What other library policies do you have in place? A book selection policy will follow your Collection Development policy if you have one already in place!

In your book selection policy, how do you select books that will be purchased for your library? Do you read reviews before purchasing? How many do you read? Does what you do for selection all make sense and is it a reasonable way to select books for your collection?Whatever you do, refine and write it down.

In my policy , I have written that I will read two reviews for non-fiction and three for fiction. I will check also the ALA listing for children's / teens books and will check other award lists for recommended books. The policy also details what the current curriculum is following , and will note that library selection of nonfiction also depends curriculum requirement I had this written down in detail in my book selection policy.

With your mission statement, your collection development policy and your book selection policy, you are now on your way to your policy and procedures book . I will continue to add different topics / statements so that you will have a complete book for your library . Keep me posted as to what you have and what you are working on.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Whichbook.com is a UK based site, but still can be used by anyone who is looking for something different and new to read. The interesting thing is when you find a book, it will give tabs to buy ( links to Amazon and helps them support the site ) or to borrow( links to local UK libraries) which is fun and great for those in UK.

Now back to the site: if you like to browse around different books this is for you. You can find similar books that match your choices. WhichBooks offers choices a bit different from regular genres such as mood, plot shape, emotion, types of main characters.

There is a team of 70 people who create the entries about the books. Theses people are real readers who love to read. They concentrate on books that most will not find by themselves. The books on the site are fiction and they are not Best Sellers. They are lesser known but intriguing titles.

Use the MY lists tab to store books you come across that you want to keep track of. You can also note on this Want to read/ Have read. Also browse the author list and the guest lists/

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About this site

This site will give you hints and tips on being organized, articles on current issues important to both public and school librarians, and ideas on some of the newest tech tools. I love being a librarian! I believe that reading, learning. and technology go hand in hand! I am a career librarian in both school and public libraries. My book The Organized Librarian is now available as an ebook and will perhaps be expanded to a print selection. Look here for excerpts of the book and also how to order. This book will give details on how to organize your self and your library to get more accomplished.